Showing empathy is a powerful way to influence others positively. If you take the time to understand someone else’s feelings or situations, you’re showing them that they matter to you. This can make a huge difference in how they see and feel about you, and how they respond to you.
This is where the power of empathy and its impact on influencing those around you comes into play. You don’t have to fix their problems, and you don’t even have to agree with their point of view, you just have to acknowledge how they feel and respect that.
It’s when they feel this respect and know they have been understood, that they are more likely to open up to you and trust you. They will come to appreciate you, and want you in their life. This is all part of being able to influence others. A person of influence is someone who others feel comfortable with and want to be around.
Looking at Empathy and Influence
So, how does empathy help you influence others? It’s simple. People are more likely to listen to you and be influenced by you if they feel you understand them. Take a moment to think about the people in your life who you respect and admire. How do they treat you? Chances are, they have made you feel understood, even when you have felt vulnerable. You probably like to hear their opinion because you already trust them.
So if you take the time to practice showing empathy in your interactions, you will naturally become someone that others look up to and want to be around. Practice being like the people you already trust and admire!
Being Kind and Empathetic
You might be thinking, well I think I already do a good job at showing kindness, but it goes a little deeper than that.
Kindness means different things to different people. You might think giving a dog a pat is showing kindness, whereas someone else might shrug that off and think you are kind if you love it, care for it, feed it, and take it for a walk every day.
So there are levels of kindness for everyone.
You always have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes and see things from their perspective, not just from your own. You can practice being empathetic by doing the usual things such as listening without interrupting, being non-judgmental and offering support, but there are also other ways you can show empathy that can enhance your influence with others.
Body Language Talks
Are you aware of other people’s body language? If not, that’s ok, but if you are, it’s very interesting to watch, don’t you agree? Your body language can either reinforce, or tell a different story to what comes out of your mouth.
Therefore, empathic body language is a vital component of effective communication, as it often conveys more than words alone. One way to express empathy is by leaning slightly forward during your conversations. This physical positioning signals your interest and attentiveness. If you are laid back, you might look bored.
By leaning in closer, while still maintaining a comfortable personal space, you show that you really are keen to hear what they have to say. This slight shift in posture encourages the speaker to share more, perhaps even share more than they normally would.
There are so many aspects to your body language! For example, if you keep your arms uncrossed and relaxed you are inviting communication, whereas, if you have your arms crossed you may come across as being either defensive or aggressive. Allowing your hands to rest comfortably at your sides, rather than fidgeting or clenching them, signals that you are calm and approachable too.
Body Language and Mirroring
Have you heard of mirroring someone’s expressions? Mirroring the other person’s expressions and body language involves reflecting their gestures, facial expressions, and even the pace of their speech.
For example, if the other person smiles or appears concerned, matching their expression helps establish rapport and conveys understanding. This alignment in body language fosters a sense of harmony and connection, making the other person feel important.
The Eyes and Touch
Don’t forget eye contact! Maintaining eye contact shows you are focused and present. Avoiding eye contact can come off as disinterest, whereas appropriate eye contact communicates engagement and respect. However, it’s essential to be aware of cultural differences, as expectations can vary.
Here’s another thing to be careful with, touch. Touch is a wonderful sign of being empathetic, such as a gentle touch on the shoulder or a trusting handshake. However, this should always be approached with care and consideration.
For example, what if you are a man and touch a woman on the shoulder and she feels you have intruded into her personal space? Or a woman giving a man a handshake and the handshake is firmer than his own. You have to watch their body language before you push yours onto them.
This is how empathy helps you to build trust and influence others. People are more likely to trust and value you when they know that you’re not dismissive of their feelings. If you practice empathy, you’ll find that people will naturally gravitate towards you, not just because of what you say, but because of how you make them feel.
